Conclusion And Comparison Table
We had high expectations of these three tested PSUs. The lofty power ratings and 80 PLUS Gold certifications promised some genuine highlights and the devices did not disappoint when it came to high power output, which is what these devices were designed for in the first place. Unfortunately we did not receive a lot of information on the individual peak power for each 12 V rail from the PSU vendors, hence we have to stick to the plain summary that you’ll get a combined 1000 W across four to six individual 12 V rails.
However, our tests mostly highlighted some weaknesses that should not exist at the highest end. None of the three PSUs actually managed to fully live up to the 80 PLUS Gold standards. The OCZ PSU slipped up a bit in the ripple/noise measurement, Sparkle's build quality undermined its solution a bit, and the Rosewill PSU suffered from impacted energy efficiency at low loads. The bottom line is a bit disappointing, given the high price points in excess of $200, with the OCZ Z1000M scoring best.
Comparison Table
Manufacturer | OCZ | Rosewill | Sparkle |
---|---|---|---|
Model Name and Number | Z1000M | Lightning-1000 | GW-EPS1250DA |
Recommended End User Price | $205 USD | $220 USD | $300 USD |
Power Certification | 80 PLUS Gold | 80 PLUS Gold | 80 PLUS Gold |
Weight | 2.5 Kg | 6.6 lbs. | 5 lbs. |
Operating Temperature | 0 - 50°C | ??? °C | 0 - 50°C |
Warranty | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years |
Power Specifications | |||
Specification | ATX12V v2.2 | ATX12V v2.3 | ATX12V/EPS12V |
Specified Output Power | 1000 W | 1000 W | 1250 W |
Max. Peak Output | 1100 W | 1000 W | Not Specified |
AC Input | 100 - 240 V | 100 - 240 V | 100 - 240 V |
AC Voltage Selection | Auto voltage | Auto voltage | Auto voltage |
DC Output +3.3V | 25 A | 25 A | 30 A |
DC Output +5V | 25 A | 25 A | 30 A |
DC Output +12V (#1) | 83 A | 83 A | 20 A |
DC Output +12V (#2) | n/a | n/a | 20 A |
DC Output +12V (#3) | n/a | n/a | 20 A |
DC Output +12V (#4) | n/a | n/a | 20 A |
DC Output +12V (#5) | n/a | n/a | 20 A |
DC Output +12V (#6) | n/a | n/a | 20 A |
DC Output -12V | 0.8 A | 0.5 A | 0.6 A |
DC Power +12V Combined | 1000 W | 996 W | 1250 W |
PFC | active | active | active |
Specified Hold-Up Time | 18 ms | > 16 ms | ≥ 17 ms |
MTBF | 100 000 hours | 100 000 hours | ≥ 60 000 Hours |
Cooling Specifications | |||
Main Fan | 135 mm | 140 mm | 140 mm |
Main Fan Speed | 1800 rpm | ??? rpm | 2200 rpm |
Secondary Fan | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Secondary Fan Speed | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Connectors & Environmental | |||
20+4 pin Motherboard | x1 (55 cm) | x1 (55 cm) | x1 (55 cm) |
CPU 8-pin/4+4-pin | 1/x1 (55 cm) | 1/x1 (55 cm) | x1 (55 cm) |
PCI Express 6-pin/6+2-pin (Graphics) | 0/x6 (55 cm) | 0/x6 (55 - 65 cm) | x4 (55 cm) |
Molex 4-pin (Peripherals) | x6 (55 - 90 cm) | x10 (55 - 95 cm) | x9 (55 - 85 cm) |
SATA Power | x12 (55 - 85 cm) | x10 (55 - 95 cm) | x12 (55 - 85 cm) |
4-pin Floppy | x2 (100 cm) | x2 (105 cm) | x3 (105 cm) |
Product Specifics | |||
Accessories | Screws | Screws, Lacing Cords | Screws, Velcro Strips |
Cable Management | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Other Details | Illuminated Fan in Red or Blue; Screw-in Cable Connectors | C20 Power Connector |